Free Hanukkah celebration lets Durham residents help others

All Durham residents invited to Whitby celebration

Free Hanukkah celebration lets Durham residents help others

Metroland file photo

DURHAM -- Rabbi Tzali Borenstein's Chabad of Durham Region is hosting a free Hanukkah celebration at the Whitby Public Library December 10, where canned goods will be used to build a giant menorah, before being donated to local food banks and families. December 2012

DURHAM -- All Durham residents are invited to celebrate Hanukkah with Chabad of Durham Region, while giving back to the Durham community.

From 5 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10, Chabad of Durham Region is hosting a free Hanukkah celebration, called Yes We Can, at the Whitby Public Library's main branch, 405 Dundas St. W. The event features music, Hanukkah crafts and hot latkes, as well as a fire show, decorate-your-own-doughnut station and meet-and-greet with Judah Maccabee, a traditional Hanukkah figure.

At the event, canned food donations will be used to build a giant can-orah -- a menorah made from canned goods. Candles will be placed atop the can-orah and lit at 6 p.m. Following the event, the cans will be donated to local food banks and families.

"Hanukkah is about bringing light into this world. A menorah built with food cans is sure to add more light into our world," said Rabbi Tzali Borenstein, who leads Chabad of Durham Region with his wife Chana. "We light the menorah, each day we add another candle, and that's because if we add a little bit of light every day, we can eventually create lots of light, and everyone who brings some food for someone who doesn't have it can change that person's life."

Canned food donations will be accepted at the event. Donations are also being collected during business hours until Dec. 9 at RBC Royal Bank, 307 Brock St. S., Whitby, and Dentistry on Dundas, 107 Dundas St. E., Whitby. Cans can also be dropped off at Chabad Jewish Centre of Durham Region, 1121 Dundas St. E., by contacting the centre at 905-493-9007 for available drop-off times.

"Hanukkah is a time where it's about a miracle where a few people were able to overcome a large army in order to have some freedom," Rabbi Borenstein said, encouraging residents to support the event. "We can make someone's life a little better and make our own life better through that."

Chabad of Durham Region works to connect people to Judaism and each other, funded solely by local donations. The group's Chabad Jewish Centre of Durham Region officially opened Nov. 25. The Yes We Can event is just one of the group's Hanukkah celebrations. For more information on the group, and Hanukkah, visit www.jewishdurham.com.

Reporter Tara Hatherly can be found on Twitter @Tara_Hatherly and on Facebook by searching Tara Hatherly.